Police chief looks back on first year

GUELPH — Guelph Police Chief Bryan Larkin says he’s fostered considerable change in his first year in the top post, experiencing only minor bumps on the learning curve.

“I love change. I get inspired,” Larkin said in a wide-ranging interview on the inaugural 12 months since taking over from retiring Rob Davis.

Possible “missteps” relate to bringing about change quickly while not involving enough staff, he said.

“I’m a rookie chief,” Larkin said, adding despite that he couldn’t be happier in the new role, a promotion from deputy chief. “The reality is I’m learning every day. I’ve bitten off a lot.”

There’s further change on the horizon, he added. He pointed to the new business plan for 2013 to ’15 that goes before the police services board shortly, this year’s expansion and renovation of the downtown headquarters, better delivery of neighbourhood services and finding new efficiencies in the police organization and its court services.

High points in his initial year?

“Still on the job,” Larkin quipped, before citing restructuring of front-line services and collection of evidence, promoting relations within and outside the police service, boosting the capacity of the drugs and intelligence section and focusing on youth and the downtown. He added there have been preparations with the University of Guelph for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats football club coming temporarily to Guelph. Work has progressed on the police business plan’s ambitious 30 goals and more than 80 objectives.

Has there been a noteworthy misfire over the past year? “I don’t think there is any low point,” Larkin responded.

That year saw a young drug enforcement officer convicted of stealing methadone, seized in a raid, for his own consumption. He was rushed to hospital when he overdosed.

Larkin couldn’t comment because of an upcoming Police Act hearing to determine the man’s employment future, but said the incident highlights the difficulties of illicit drug use in society and police recruiting in general.

The head of the 284-member service and its $35-million annual budget, Larkin has spent considerable time over the past year at public events and appearances.

“I think it’s important to connect with the community,” Larkin said, seeking feedback on public issues and how well police are performing. Those responses haven’t always been positive.

He spoke, for example, about downtown safety, policing costs and the impact of the Ticats when he addressed Guelph’s Probus Club Wednesday morning. Reaching out to the community allows him to speak with knowledge to the police board and staff, he said. “I can give them direct feedback.”

Larkin said today’s modern style to policing has evolved from the more militaristic, law-and-order approach of almost two centuries ago. Police, he said, can look beyond public safety alone helping foster a healthier community, acting as a connecting link between social and community agencies.

These days, 20 to 30 per cent of calls for service relate to criminal matters, he said. The rest revolve around matters like public order, social issues and public mental health challenges. Police officers have to adapt to the changing times. “I think that’s the future.”

Being away from the office more means relying to a greater extent on senior managers, who hold more frequent meetings, Larkin continued.

Larkin is known for his frequent tweets, which he said builds on the service’s increasing focus on social media like Facebook. He’s considering blogging in future.

“It’s a great opportunity to be accountable to the community.”

Asked about that police accountability, he said: “We can do better.”

Some past reticence has come from dilemmas like what to release to the public about a recent incident in which an officer was charged with an offence in another jurisdiction. Larkin said the service’s initial reaction was that the incident wasn’t relevant to Guelph, until the story broke in the media and information was released.

How to get information to the public, when and how much remain subjects the service is grappling with, Larkin said. As the service considers these, it’s coming from a position of strength in the community.